Harry Potter Horcrux hunt

When I was in my first grade back in Russia, our teacher organized a small scavenger hunt for us around the school grounds. It was so fun that after coming home and telling my elder sister about it, we decided we have to start making our own little scavenger hunts around our apartment. So we did for the next year.

The memory of this has been long forgotten until my friends invited me to the "Escape from the Room" event a few years ago. It is basically a scavenger hunt within a small space: you look for puzzles and hints in the ultimate goal to find a key to escape the room you're locked in for an hour.

All of this came together in my mind when I started planning our Harry Potter themed housewarming party. In the spirit of the last books, the scavenger hunt was named "The Horcrux Hunt". I spent a lot of time searching the Internet for a Harry Potter scavenger hunt, but couldn't find anything that matched what I had in mind.

So here I'd like to share what I put together for the party as a way of giving back to this incredible fanbase community. While there was no ready-to-go scavenger hunt on the Internet, there were lots of other things ready to print and make that made our house feel very Hogwarts like for a few days. So I'm happy there is something I can contribute too.

A few details about the scavenger hunt:

• While mine was targeted towards adults, you can probably use it for kids too as long as they  know the Harry Potter books pretty well.
• The goal was to collect all 7 horcruxes: diary, ring, locket, cup, diadem, snake and finally Harry Potter himself.
• I had a total of 26 clues in the hunt. They were hidden all throughout the house and each clue led to the next one and potentially a horcrux. All 26 printable clues are here on the last page.
• Every clue was a quote from the books. 
• All horcruxes were just printed icons on little pieces of paper. If you can use real objects corresponding to the horcruxes, that's probably even cooler.
• I already owned quite a few Harry Potter related items that I used for hiding the clues and the party decor. However, with a bit of imagination, I'm sure you can find cool things you own that can be used for the hunt. You don't need to buy much to make this activity fun. Local thrift stores and antique shops / fairs are a great source of inexpensive and cool looking period pieces.

Here are all the clues below. In purple are the objects used for hiding the clues. In orange are the horcruxes.

1. But sir, we’re not supposed to do werewolves yet, we’re due to start hinkypunks. 
• If you remember, this is a precursor to a famous Snape’s quote when he is substituting Lupin in the Defense Against the Dark Arts class: “Turn to page 394”. That page talks about werewolves.
• Leads to the page 394 in Defense against the Dark Arts textbook where there was a pencil note on the page. I just used one my home collection books wrapped in a home printed cover. Here are a few options for covers: here and here.
2. Owl
  


• Leads to a few toy owls I had in the living room or on the Christmas tree. Each owl had a part of the next clue that I cut into a few pieces.
3. Let me give you a clue. The happiest man on Earth would look into the mirror and see only himself, exactly as he is. 
• The quote is from Dumbledore when he’s talking about the Mirror of Erised.
• Leads to a note on the mirror written in lipstick / red paint.
• We have a mirror bathroom cabinet that opens up and has mirrors on the inside too. I chose to write the note there, so people won’t see it right away when they just enter the bathroom.

4. The chamber of secrets has been opened. 
• Leads to the Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets book with letter tiles and Tom Riddle’s diary. My Chamber of Secrets book happens to be hollow on the inside, so I put the clue and the letters there.
• For the next clue I personally used Bananagrams tiles, but you can use Scrabble ones or just print out your letters on paper and mix them up.
 
 

5. <Mixed scrabble letters for spelling S I R I U S B L A C K> 
• Leads to the printed Sirius Black WANTED poster.
• I used the printable file from here. I had a few pieces of “aged with tea” paper that I printed this on.

6. Something gleamed in the light of the wand, and Harry spun about, but all that was there was a small frozen pool, its cracked black surface glittering as he raised the wand higher to examine it. He moved forward rather cautiously and looked down. The ice reflected his distorted shadow and the beam of wand light, but deep below the thick, misty gray carapace, something else glinted. 
• The quote is from book six describing how Harry finds a frozen pool that has a Gryffindor sword at the bottom.
• Leads to a freezer with an ice cube that has a hint frozen inside. This was super easy to make. I “laminated” the clue paper with regular scotch tape to protect from the water. Then you can put the clue in an ice mold or just a small plastic bag and cover with water. I didn’t have any ice molds, so I filled a small plastic bag with water, put the clue inside the tied up the bag. I made sure I couldn’t read the clue as-is, so the guests would have to melt the ice before they can know what the clue says.
7. My parents are dentists. They tend to people’s teeth.
• This is Hermione’s quote from book six.
• Leads to the floss box in the bathroom.
8. The book snapped shut on his hand and then flapped past him, still scuttling on its covers. Harry scrambled around, threw himself forward, and managed to flatten it. 
• The quote is from book three describing how Harry tried to catch and close the Monster textbook.
• Leads to the Monster book from book three. I had one from a while ago that serves as a storage box for my threads and needles. I bought it at a Harry Potter fair, so unfortunately got no handy links for it. Etsy has a few similar ones here.
9. “Four pints of mulled mead’  - ‘Ta, Rosmerta, ’ - said Hagrid
• The quote is from book three. Hagrid says this at the Three Broomsticks pub in Hogsmeade.
• Leads to a small box with Marvolo’s ring in the area where we keep a few bottles of wine and mead and other alcohol.
10. Stepping nimbly out of Harry’s reach, he pulled a thick wad of envelopes from the inside of the pillowcase he was wearing. Harry could make out Hermione’s neat writing, Ron’s untidy scrawl, and even a scribble that looked as though it was from the Hogwarts gamekeeper, Hagrid.
• Leads to a table with Ron’s, Hermione’s, and Hagrid’s letters. These are letters from book two. I found the content of the letters here and then just added handwriting fonts. Here are all three letter templates ready for you to print.
• I also had a few postage stickers I used here, like the "Air Mail" one or the Hogwarts seal stamp.

11. <Ron’s letter>
• The letter talks about the Weasley’s trip to Egypt.
• Leads to a pyramid piece in my Egyptian themed chess set. The clue is taped to the bottom of the piece.
• I had the chess set from my childhood, so it worked perfectly for the hunt. You can pick something else referenced in the letters.
12. The Grim! 
• The quote is from Professor Trelawney in book three when she looks at Harry’s cup with tea leaves.
• Leads to a cup with tea leaves laid out in the shape of a dog.
• I just soaked tea leaves in water and then carefully arranged them in a shape that resembled the grim dog from the movie.
13. They're not birds! They're keys! Winged keys 
• The quote is from Hermione in book one when she, Harry and Ron are trying to get to the Philosopher’s stone.
• Leads to an old key with wings. I had a cool looking key that I got at the antique fair for $5, but any key will work here. If you want the one that looks right for the Harry Potter period, check a few antique shops in your area. Most of them have little items like this for next to nothing.
14. Undesirable no 1 
• This is the title of the Daily Prophet in book five.
• Leads to the “Undesirable No 1” Daily Prophet.
• I got a whole set of printable newspaper covers on Etsy, but there are some templates available online for free too.

15.  <Hogwarts express ticket hidden inside the Daily Prophet>
• Leads to the Hogwarts Express tree ornament. I had the ornament from the trip to the Wizarding World, but looks like Amazon has it too.

16. 'No, no, I'm sure it’s fine,' said Mr. Weasley, holding the receiver above his head and peering at the dial. 'Let's see ... six...' he dialled the number, 'two ... four ... and another four ... and another two...'
• The quote is from Mr Weasley in book five when he’s taking Harry to the Ministry of Magic and they’re using a public entrance through a phone booth. He’s dialing 62442 which corresponds to letters M A G I C on the phone dial.
• Leads to the word-based paddle lock where MAGIC can be entered which is text equivalent to 62442. Lock is on the box that has the Slytherin locket and the next clue.
17. They can travel by fire - only you’ve blocked the fireplace. 
• The quote is from Harry when he’s telling Dursleys about wizards ability to travel through the fireplace.
• Leads to a cauldron with Floo powder that has a small dragon egg hidden amidst black sand.
• I got a whole set of potion labels from Etsy, including this Floo Powder one. Internet has a whole variety of free potion labels too. For the container, I used a plastic cauldron

18. <Dragon egg> 
• If you remember, in book four Harry had to figure out the riddle in the dragon egg as part of the Triwizard’s Tournament task. He ended up taking it to the bathroom with a huge tub per Cedric’s recommendation.
• Leads to the bathroom with Moaning Myrtle playing in the background.
• You can hide a speaker, a phone or any sound capable device and play Moaning Myrtle track on it from YouTube:
19. <Bathroom Myrtle voice> I would try it under the water 
• Leads to a bathtub filled with bubble and a plastic Kinder egg at the bottom of the tub. Obviously, you can use any container that will keep the clue under water, it doesn’t have to be a Kinder egg.
20. ‘The Fountain of Fair Fortune’ . . . ‘The Wizard and the Hopping Pot’ . . . ‘Babbitty Rabbitty and her Cackling Stump’  
• This is quote by Ron from book seven when Hermione gets “The Tales of Beedle the Bard” book as part of Dumbledore’s will.
• Leads to the The Tales of Beedle the Bard book.
• I got a “Hogwarts library set” as a gift years ago. It has “The Tales of Beedle the Bard”, “Quidditch through History” and “Fantastic Beasts and where to find them”. It’s a fun book set for the HP fans. Amazon seems to carry it too. You can also just print a new paper for a book you own.
21. Ain't no safer place. Not one. Except perhaps Hogwarts. 
• The quote is from Hagrid in book one when he’s talking about the Gringotts bank.
• Leads to a Gringotts box with coins that has the Hufflepuff cup and the next clue.
• In our bread box in the kitchen I set up a mini Gringotts station with some chocolate gold coins and bars. Those I got from a local store. I put coins in a few small bags and laid out printed Gringotts withdrawal tickets nearby.
22. But one does not parade the fact that one is All-Knowing. I frequently act as though I am not possessed of the Inner Eye, so as not to make others nervous. 
• The quote is by Professor Trelawney.
• Leads to a character dressed as Trelawney who says out loud the next hint when guests point at her.
23. <Trelawney says> Crystal-gazing is a particularly refined art. I do not expect any of you to See when first you peer into the Orb’s infinite depths. We shall start by practicing relaxing the conscious mind and external eyes.
• The quote is by Professor Trelawney in book three.
• Leads to the crystal ball.
• You can get a spherical ornament base at Michael’s and put a string light inside. It makes for a simple but beautiful crystal ball.

24. Would he be able to find this spot again amidst all this junk? Seizing the chipped bust of an ugly old warlock from on top of a nearby crate, he stood it on top of the cupboard where the book was now hidden, perched a dusty old wig and a tarnished tiara on the statue’s head to make it more distinctive, then sprinted back through the alleyways of hidden junk as fast as he could go, back to the door, back out onto the corridor, where he slammed the door behind him, and it turned at once back into stone. 
• The quote is from book seven when Harry returns to Hogwarts to find the last Hogwarts founder relic that was turned into a horcrux.
• Leads to the garage / storage closet with a wig that has a Ravenclaw diadem on it.
25. Desperately tricky to make, and disastrous to get wrong. However, if brewed correctly, as this has been, you will find that all your endeavors tend to succeed 
• The quote is by Professor Slughorn in book six  when he’s describing the Liquid Luck potion or Felix Felicis.
• Leads to the Felix Felicis potion that has a Nagini snake paper under it.

26. <When guests say “I open at the close” to the quest master in Harry Potter costume, they get the last horcrux>

Enjoy the hunt!